Nihon Hidankyo facts for kids
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| Founded | August 10, 1956 |
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| Focus | Abolition of nuclear weapons |
| Headquarters | Shibadaimon, Minato, Tokyo |
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Area served
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Japan |
| Method | Lobbying |
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Executive director
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Sueichi Kido |
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (日本原水爆被害者団体協議会, Nihon gensuibaku higaisha dantai kyōgi-kai), often called Nihon Hidankyō (日本被団協, Nihon Hidankyō), is a special group. It was started in 1956 by people who survived the atomic bombings, known as hibakusha. Their main goals are to help these survivors and to work towards a world without nuclear weapons.
Nihon Hidankyō has done many things. They have shared thousands of stories from survivors. They also send groups every year to places like the United Nations. Here, they ask leaders to get rid of nuclear weapons around the world.
This important group won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. They received it for trying to create a world free of nuclear weapons. The prize also recognized their efforts to show, through survivor stories, that nuclear weapons should never be used again.
Contents
What is Nihon Hidankyō?
Nihon Hidankyō is a group for atomic bomb survivors across Japan. It was formed by people who lived through the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These survivors came from different parts of Japan.
How the Group Started
In 1954, the United States tested a powerful nuclear weapon called Castle Bravo. This test happened at Bikini Atoll. The nuclear dust from the test made people on nearby islands sick. It also affected 23 sailors on a Japanese fishing boat called Daigo Fukuryū Maru.
Because of this, a group called the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs was formed in Hiroshima in 1955. This movement inspired the atomic bomb survivors. So, on August 10, 1956, they created Nihon Hidankyō. This happened at the council's second meeting in Nagasaki.
Working for Peace
Nihon Hidankyō decided in 1965 not to join any specific political groups. This was because politics had caused some disagreements within the wider anti-nuclear movement.
As of October 2024, Nihon Hidankyō works on several important activities:
- They ask for all nuclear weapons to be removed. They also ask the Japanese government to help survivors.
- They send requests to the Japanese government, the United Nations, and other governments.
- They push for a global agreement to get rid of nuclear weapons. They also want international meetings and laws to support survivors.
- They teach people in Japan and around the world about what happened during the atomic bombings.
- They study, publish, and hold exhibitions and meetings about the damage caused by atomic bombs.
- They offer advice and help to atomic bomb survivors.
Awards and Recognition
Nihon Hidankyō has received several awards for their important work:
- 2003: Seán MacBride Peace Prize
- 2010: Award for Social Activism from the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
- 2024: Nobel Peace Prize
Before winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Nihon Hidankyō was also nominated three times. These nominations came from the International Peace Bureau (IPB) in 1985, 1994, and 2015.
See also
- Anti-nuclear movement
- Anti-nuclear power movement in Japan
